I believe the language we speak defines who we are. I was always taught at the Training College that the language must do things for us. Speakers of any language must coin words to express their emotions and experiences, to make themselves being heard. The European crisis is making the Old World question themselves about pollution, traditions and even the use of Language to fit the situation. Here the latest!

The phrase ‘squeezed middle’ invented by Labour Party leader Ed Miliband in the UK, is the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) Word of the Year for 2011. It refers to people who are on low or middle incomes, and who feel like they are suffering the most in the current recession. Though it is the phrase of the year we will have to wait to find it in a dictionary.

Source:The Day – Explaining Matters

http://www.theday.co.uk/arts/squeezed-middle-is-word-of-the-year-says-oed

Dec. 1 , 2011

This blog is to share with you interesting news and latest information related to the english culture around the world.

Hope we all enjoy it as a small reading room!

Gladys Lesmi Dallas

IT IS BETTER TO GIVE THAN RECEIVE!

I would like to share with you an ad which has been watched by over one million people in the UK in only five days!. It is one of those ads that leave you misty-eyed.

Video: John Lewis advert

John Lewis is a popular UK department store, known for high quality goods. It is very popular with the upper middle classes.

POETRY CAN ALSO BE FUN

This is about what we do not want to happen at school!

The Head of Progress – by Mark Grist

There’s a fight, Sir
By the lockers, Sir
And Aidan’s battered Paul
Daniel’s strangled Jordan
Cos Jordan took his ball
Isaac’s ripped his shirt, Sir
And Michael spat on Sue
She was only trying to stop them
And she’s got it on her shoe!
The lunchtime supervisor left, Sir
She said she couldn’t stay
Jane’s crying in the toilets
And the gerbil got away
Saqib knocked the cage, Sir
The door, it just flipped back
And it ran behind the cupboard
And it’s stuck inside a crack.
We poked it with a stick, Sir
But the powder paint got spilt
It’s all over the carpet
And that castle Connor built
I think you ought to come, Sir
Mildred Miles was sick
And all the boys were yelling
And Martin threw a brick
It nearly hit John Bailey
And he stepped on Sama’s thumb
So shall I say you’re coming?
She wants to call her mum
Shall we get the cleaners
And can I mop the paint?
The new boy’s torn his jacket
And he thinks he’s going to faint.
The other teachers said, Sir
That I should come to you
Cos you’re the Head of Progress
So you’d know what to do,
Sir.

The English Roses

This is a collection of books about five girls in London and their problems. The girls are jelous of Binah , a new comer, for they believe her live is perfect but everything that giltters is not gold.

I believe that books are still great presents for children. Yesterday, while visiting a nearby bookstore, I came across this lovely collection. Though I knew Madonna had a collection of books for children, I had never come across one of them till yesterday.

I´d highly recommend The English Roses for the illustrations and overall design are both appealing  for girls and adults.